Experimental studies on the settlement and growth of bryozoa in the natural environment

Abstract

A rack of six panels of roughened black Perspex was placed in Port Hacking, Sydney, for a period of 34 weeks. Some panels were screened and the rack was examined each week for accumulation of Bryozoa. Some colonies were allowed to grow for the complete study period; some panels were scraped free of all organisms each week; some were scraped free of all organisms except Bryozoa; and some panels which had been screened were returned to the environment unscreened. Sizes of colonies were noted and are presented in tabular form. Results show that there is a marked variation in the growth of Bryozoa, even extending to the same species on the same panel. No rigorous statistical analysis of the growth is attempted. Environmental variables such as rainfall, salinity and temperature were monitored at stations close to the panel site and are discussed in relation to bryozoan growth.